Miniature Vestments

I don’t often volunteer to do sewing projects for other people, but I was more than willing to make an exception for this project. We are so happy to have the “Catechisis of the Good Shepherd” catechism program available to our children. It is a program based of of the work Maria Montessori that guides the children on their spiritual path to knowing and understanding our loving God, and the richness of our Catholic faith.

Our local program is always short on volunteers, but with so many children underfoot (and now with my injury) I am not in a place to volunteer my time in “the atrium.” I realized this summer that I could help in a different way, and I offered my sewing skills in anyway that it would help their classroom.

The children spend part of their time at workstations, and I was given the task to make miniature priest vestments for a learning meditation. For this activity, the child follows a booklet to dress a mannequin in priestly garments. They learn the name of each piece, it’s meaning, and read excerpts from the prayers said while the priest is “vesting” before the Mass. Through this “work”,” they are learning parts of our religious tradition while going through a meditation. so beautiful.

Let’s talk details. The catechist leader provided an androgynous 10 inch velvet-covered dress form that these pieces where designed for. (I can’t even imagine how hard it was to find a masculine decorative mannequin. If anyone has helpful links, shoot me an email.)

Cincture

Stole

Chasuble

Symbol of Charity

“Give me, O Lord, the grace to serve you faithfully.”

I wish I had known about these beautiful prayers as a child. It make me happy that my children are learning about them.

Because I know I will be asked, I will not be making any more of these sets for sale, or writing up a polished pattern or tutorial. However, I have scanned the pattern pieces and put them together with some project notes. I hope they can help other catechism classes or families in teaching there children.

Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I have been thinking about making vestments for 18 inch dolls. I am sewing a Roman cassock, biretta and facia at the moment drafting my own patterns as I go. I have been asked by a customer to make this as a gift for a priest. I don’t need the vestments for this order but you have inspired me to give it a go for my own children. I will post some photos on my brand face book page soon. I have just worked out the muslin and now feel confident to cut up the gaberdine. It is great to see another mother of five who likes to sew. I choose 18 inch dolls as they don’t take as much time to sew for. You may like to see the Nun doll clothes I have made as well, Mother Teresa, Sisters of Life, Dominican and also Our Lady of Fatima at http://www.facebook.com/pages/RomanaMa.

This is beautiful! So grateful for your write up, I’m hoping my son will start catechism of GS in sept only thing is its 1hr and half away and through London so can be longer! It would be once a month so it seems manageable…anyway the prayers and symbolism are beautiful you have included and I’m going to make full size ones for my almost 3yo as he has been doing *mass* for a year and half!

I’ve made everything so far (making for our Good Shepherd program and church) but I am having difficulty with the collar on the chasuble. Any additional information you could share would be really helpful.
Thanks,
Molly

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